A Sister's Hope

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  “He’s only hollering because you bumped his tray and spilled his milk.”

  “He’s hurtin’ my ears.” Anna pinched Daniel’s arm, and he screamed even louder.

  Grace’s hands shook as she lifted Daniel from his chair and placed him in her lap. “Anna, tell your bruder you’re sorry for pinching him.”

  Anna shook her head. “He’s too young to know what I’m sayin’. Besides, he shouldn’t have yelled in my ear like that.”

  “Either apologize or go to your room,” Grace said through tight lips.

  With tears in her eyes, Anna glanced over at Cleon.

  “You’d better do as your mamm says,” he said.

  “But I haven’t had my dessert.”

  Grace’s face heated up. “Then apologize to Daniel!”

  Anna shook her head and dashed from the room.

  Cleon’s forehead wrinkled as he looked over at Grace. “Did you have to yell at her like that?”

  Grace’s defenses rose. “She acted like a pill throughout the meal, and when she pinched Daniel, I’d had enough.”

  “She’s upset about not being able to see her grandpa tomorrow.”

  Grace wrapped her arms around Daniel and held him tightly, hoping the gesture might offer her some comfort. “I’m not sure Anna should ever see Carl.”

  “Why not? I thought we agreed that she could see him if someone in the family was with them.”

  “He found out about the attacks against my family, and he doesn’t think Anna’s safe living here.” Grace gulped on the sob rising in her throat. “He said he wants Anna to move in with him.”

  A muscle on the side of Cleon’s neck quivered, and he blinked rapidly. “I won’t let that happen, Grace. I promise you’ll never lose your daughter again.”

  The following morning as Grace stood at the stove, stirring a pot of oatmeal, she thought about Carl’s suggestion that Anna come to live with him, and it upset her all over again. She did want Anna to be safe, but not at the risk of letting Carl take control of her again. No, Anna’s place was here, with them.

  Forcing her thoughts aside, Grace turned from the stove, cupped her hands around her mouth, and called, “Anna, breakfast is ready!”

  No response.

  “Maybe she’s in the bathroom,” Cleon said as he stepped into the kitchen.

  Grace shook her head. “I’m sure I would have heard her come down the stairs.”

  “Maybe she took them softly for a change.” Cleon moved toward the high chair and ruffled Daniel’s curly hair. “Or Anna might have come downstairs during one of this little guy’s yelling matches. No one can hear much of anything when he gets to hollering.”

  Grace bit back a chuckle. Daniel had become pretty verbal lately. “Would you mind checking the bathroom to see if Anna’s there while I finish making the pancakes?”

  “Don’t mind at all.” Cleon left the room and returned a few seconds later. “No sign of Anna in the bathroom. Want me to check upstairs and see if she’s still in her room?”

  Grace nodded.

  Cleon left again, and when he returned, he was frowning.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Anna’s gone.”

  “Gone?”

  “She’s not in her room, and when I looked in her closet to see if she might be there, I discovered that her suitcase was missing.”

  Grace gasped. Had Anna been kidnapped, or had she run away?

  As Luke bounced along in the passenger’s seat of John’s SUV, he was surprised when he spotted Grace’s daughter, Anna, walking along the edge of the road in the opposite direction of the schoolhouse, lugging a small suitcase. “Hold up there, would you, John? I know that little girl, and I’d like to find out where she’s going with that suitcase.”

  When John slowed his rig and pulled to the shoulder of the road, Luke hopped out. “Where are you going, Anna?” he called.

  Anna merely shrugged and kept on walking.

  “The direction you’re heading is not the way to the schoolhouse,” Luke said, walking beside her.

  “I know that.”

  “Would you like us to give you a ride to school?”

  She shook her head.

  “Then get in the car, and we’ll take you home.”

  “I don’t wanna go home. I’m goin’ to see Poppy.”

  “Poppy?”

  Anna nodded. “Poppy’s my grossdaadi, and I wanna be with him.”

  Luke had never heard Anna refer to Grace’s dad as “Poppy” before. Could Anna be talking about her other grandfather—the one she’d been with before she’d come to live with Grace?

  “Where’s your grossdaadi live?” Luke asked.

  “In a house in Berlin. He’s livin’ there now.”

  “Do you know which house, Anna?”

  She shook her head. “No, but I’ll find him!”

  Luke touched Anna’s shoulder. “If you want to visit him, then you’d better ask your mamm, don’t you think?”

  Anna’s blue eyes flashed angrily, and her chin jutted out. “Mama said no, but she can’t stop me from bein’ with Poppy. Nobody can keep us apart.”

  “I’m sure no one wants to keep you apart, Anna.”

  “Uh-huh. Poppy asked if I could go to his house to see him, and Mama said no, not today.”

  Luke was sure if Grace knew Anna was out on the road by herself, heading toward Berlin in search of her grandfather, she would be worried sick.

  “Look, Anna, if you get in the car we can talk about this better.”

  Anna hesitated but finally climbed into John’s rig. Luke grabbed her suitcase and climbed in, too. “Head for Cleon’s place,” he mouthed to John after he’d taken his seat and shut the door. John nodded and pulled onto the road.

  Martha had just stepped out of the barn when she heard a vehicle pull into the yard. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw Luke getting out of John Peterson’s SUV. Didn’t he know better than to come here uninvited? What if Dad came out of his shop and saw Luke and Martha together? After the scene Dad had made the other night when he’d confronted her about seeing Luke, Martha knew he would be hopping mad if Luke showed his face around here again. She still hadn’t had the chance to speak to Dad alone and tell him about the note she’d found in the back of her buggy. She wasn’t even sure she wanted to bring up the subject, for fear of riling Dad again.

  Martha took a step toward Luke but halted when he turned and lifted Anna out of the SUV. “What in the world?” She rushed over to them. “What’s Anna doing in John’s rig? I figured she’d be home having breakfast or in Cleon’s buggy on her way to school.”

  “That’s what I thought, too, when I saw her walking along the edge of the road in the opposite direction of the schoolhouse.” Luke nodded toward Grace and Cleon’s place. “You want to come along while I walk Anna up to her house?”

  Martha was about to reply, when Anna hollered, “I don’t wanna go home! I wanna see Poppy!”

  The child pivoted toward the road, but Martha reached out and grabbed her arm. “You can’t go running off by yourself,” she said firmly. “We’ll go up to your house, let your mamm know you’re okay, and then you can talk about seeing your grandpa.”

  Anna dug in her heels. “I need to see Poppy!”

  Martha gritted her teeth. “You don’t even know where he lives. You’re coming with me!”

  “Let me talk to her.” Luke squatted beside Anna. “We know you want to see your grossdaadi, but let’s go up to your house and talk to your mamm and daed a few minutes. I’m sure we can work things out.”

  Anna finally nodded and reached for Luke’s hand.

  Luke picked up Anna’s suitcase, and as he and Anna started up the driveway, Martha turned to John, who still sat in his vehicle. “Thanks for bringing her home, John.”

  “Sure, no problem. We couldn’t let the little tyke skip school and try to find her grandfather’s house all alone.”

  “I appreciate that.” Martha smiled. “Would y
ou like to come up to the house with us?”

  John shook his head. “I think I’ll head to the barn and see your dad. I heard he’s planning to rebuild his shop soon.”

  Martha nodded. “Would you do me a favor, John?”

  “What’s that?”

  “Would you please not mention anything to Dad about Luke being here?”

  “How come?”

  “Dad doesn’t care much for Luke, and—”

  “Sure, no problem. I won’t say a word.”

  “Thank you.” Martha turned and hurried up the driveway behind Luke and Anna.

  When Grace heard footsteps on the back porch, she jerked open the door. There stood Anna holding Luke Friesen’s hand. “Anna! Oh, Anna!” she cried.

  “Where have you been?” Cleon asked, as he joined Grace on the porch, holding Daniel in his arms. “You sneaked out of the house without telling your mamm or me where you were going, and I was just getting ready to go out looking for you.”

  Anna gave no reply as Luke herded her up the stairs.

  “John and I were heading to Berlin, and we saw her walking along the side of the road in the opposite direction of the schoolhouse,” Luke said as they stepped onto the porch.

  “She was going to see her grandpa Davis,” Martha added as she followed behind Luke.

  “What!” Grace and Cleon said in unison.

  “I. . .I wanted to see Poppy.” Anna’s voice quivered, and her blue eyes filled with tears. “Poppy loves me.”

  Grace dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around the child. “Oh, Anna, we love you, too.”

  “But we can’t have you skipping school,” Cleon said. “You don’t even know where your grandpa Davis lives. You would have gotten lost on your own, and it’s dangerous for you to be out by yourself like that.”

  Anna sniffed. “C–can I see Poppy after school today?”

  “Not today.” Grace patted Anna’s back. “We’ll see about going there some Saturday when you have no school.”

  When Grace and Cleon took Anna inside, Martha remained on the porch with Luke.

  “Danki for bringing Anna home,” she said, leaning on the railing as she faced Luke, who stood with his back to the door.

  “It scared me when I saw her lugging a suitcase and heading in the direction of Berlin by herself,” he replied. “When I found out what she was up to, I figured her folks were probably worried and that we needed to get Anna home as quick as we could.”

  “You really do care about my family, don’t you?”

  “Of course I care.” Luke glanced down the driveway, where John’s rig was parked near the barn. “I even care about your daed. Although I’m sure he’d never believe that.”

  Martha grimaced. “Dad can be pretty stubborn at times. It’s not easy to make him see that he’s wrong about something.”

  “Well, he’s wrong about me, and I aim to prove it. I just wish there were more clues that would help us find out who’s behind the attacks.” Luke grunted. “I don’t think we’ve done such a good job of investigating things, Martha. To tell you the truth, I’m beginning to wonder if we’ll ever find out who’s behind the attacks.”

  “I have some information I think is worth thinking about,” she said.

  His eyebrows shot up. “You do?”

  She nodded.

  “What is it?”

  Martha motioned for Luke to come closer. “I recently discovered that Ray Larson has set up a bird feeder close to our fence line that borders his property.”

  Luke’s mouth fell open. “You don’t really think your nice neighbor has anything to do with the attacks.”

  “I hope not, but when I asked Ray about the feeder, he said he’d put it there so he could watch certain birds.” She frowned. “I think he might be watching us and not the birds. I’m hoping to find out what he’s up to.”

  “How are you planning to do that? Since you’re working for Irene more now than ever, you’re not always home to keep an eye on things.”

  “That’s true, but I’ll watch when I am here, and—”

  Luke held up one hand as Cleon stepped out the door.

  “I didn’t realize you were still here, Luke,” Cleon said. “Figured you and John would be headed for work by now.”

  “He closed his shop for a few hours this morning,” Luke replied. “The two of us were headed to town when we spotted Anna.” He nodded toward the barn. “John’s visiting Roman right now, so I figured I may as well hang around here ’til he’s done.”

  “I’m heading to work at the barn myself,” Cleon said. “Should I tell John you’re waiting up here at the house, Luke?”

  Luke nodded. “But I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention that

  I’m talking to Martha. Roman wouldn’t like it.”

  Cleon gnawed on his lower lip but finally nodded.

  “Maybe I should wait in John’s rig,” Luke said when Cleon stepped off the porch. “No point in borrowing trouble.”

  “Cleon said he wouldn’t tell Dad you’re with me.”

  “Even so, I think I’d better go.” Luke turned and sprinted down the driveway.

  Martha turned and started up the steps leading to her sister’s house, figuring Grace probably needed a listening ear.

  “How are things with you these days?” John asked Roman as he stood near one of the workbenches that had been set up in the barn.

  Roman shrugged his shoulders. “Fair to middlin’.”

  “There haven’t been any more attacks, I hope.”

  “Not for a while.” Roman saw no need to mention that the reins of Martha’s horse had been cut.

  “That’s good to hear. It’s kind of worrisome to think there might be a deranged person running around our community, ready to terrorize some other unsuspecting family at any moment.”

  “So far, we’re the only ones who have been attacked.” Roman blew out his breath. “If the person behind the attacks was planning to hit other folks’ homes, I’m sure they’d have done it by now.”

  “What about the vandalism done at some of the schools?”

  “I’m sure those were done by pranksters. Same holds true for the other mischief that’s been pulled.”

  “You’re probably right about that,” John said with a nod.

  “So, what brings you by here this morning?”

  “Luke and I were headed to Berlin and spotted your granddaughter Anna heading in that direction. After Luke talked with her awhile, we brought her back home.”

  Roman’s forehead wrinkled. “Anna was heading to Berlin by herself?”

  “That’s right. She said she was going to see her grandpa.”

  “Carl Davis?”

  John shrugged.

  A car door slammed, and Roman glanced out the window. He spotted Luke getting into John’s SUV.

  John glanced out the window then, too. “Guess I’d better get going.”

  “All right then. Thanks for bringing my granddaughter home.”

  “No problem. We were glad to do it.” John headed for the door but turned back around. “Oh, I heard you were going to start building a new shop soon.”

  “That’s right. Hope to get started on it in the next week or so.”

  “Let me know if you need any help.”

  “Thanks, John, I will.”

  Roman watched as John got into his truck. Despite the fact that he didn’t care much for Luke, he was grateful he’d brought Anna home; he just couldn’t muster up the words to say so.

  Crash! Bam! Thump, thump, thump!

  Roman sat straight up in bed and snapped on the battery-operated light. His heart pounded as he looked at his and Judith’s bedroom window. It had been shattered, and a brick lay on the floor near their dresser.

  Judith bolted upright and let out an ear-piercing scream.

  With no thought for the broken glass covering the floor, Roman rushed over to the window and pulled the curtain aside. The moon was hidden by clouds tonight, and the yard was shroude
d in darkness.

  “What is it, Roman? Do you see anyone out there?” Judith’s voice quavered, and when Roman turned to look at her, he saw tears on her cheeks.

  “It’s too dark for me to see,” he said, moving back to the bed. “I’m sure whoever threw that brick isn’t hanging around so he can get caught. No doubt, the culprit’s long gone.”

  “Oh, Roman,” she sobbed, “I. . .I don’t think I can take much more of this. I wish you c–could make it stop.”

  He lowered himself to the bed and took hold of her hand. “If there was something I could do about these horrible attacks, don’t you think I would?”

  Judith started rocking back and forth, holding her hands against her temples.

  He touched her shoulder. “Judith, are you okay?”

  No response.

  “Judith, are you listening to me?”

  She continued to rock, staring vacantly across the room.

  Suddenly, Martha burst into the room. “Did you hear that big boom? It sounded like—” Her gaze went to the window, and then to the floor. “Did. . .did you see who threw that brick, Dad? Were either you or Mom hurt?”

  Roman shook his head, but Judith continued to sit and rock as though in a daze.

  Martha rushed over to the bed and took a seat beside her. “Mom, are you okay?”

  “She’s fine; just a little shook up is all.”

  Martha turned to face Roman. “Are—are you sure she’s all right? She looks like she’s in shock.”

  “She was talking to me a few seconds ago. She seemed kind of shaky, but I don’t think she’s in shock.”

  “Maybe Mom should lie down in bed.”

  “That might be a good idea.” Roman helped Judith lie down, and he made sure her head was resting on a pillow. “Martha, why don’t you run to the kitchen and get your mamm a cup of herbal tea?”

  Martha hesitated a moment, took a quick glance at her mother, and bolted from the room.

  Martha entered the kitchen, lit the gas lamp hanging above the table, and put a kettle of water on the stove to heat. Then she hurried across the room, grabbed a flashlight from the top drawer, and opened the back door. Clicking on the flashlight, she shone the beam of light around the yard. No sign of anyone. Of course that didn’t mean no one was lurking in the shadows. If she hadn’t been so concerned about Mom, she would have ventured into the yard and searched for the culprit who’d thrown that brick.